Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-03
FILLED AN ACHING VOID.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF THE IN
TeR-STATE COMMERCE ACT

Z. lexis Ale COMMGkCG AZ
As Gathered from the First Report of the |
Commissioners-Few Suggestions as to |
Amendment-whatw Will Be Done About |
Turpie?-The Democrats Caucus - No |
Message Before Tuesday.
WASHINGTON Cry, Dec 3.-Ihe first an |
nual report of the interstate commerce COM |
mission was made public Friday. 1t fills
forty-two pages of closely printed matter, in
which the work OF the commission since its
origin, the effects of the new law upon trade
and transportation, and the laws defects are
treated extensively. The report opens with
very interesting history of railroad devel-
opment in the United States. The railroad
mileage of the country, it is shown, is l37, 1856.
The number of corporations represented in
this mileage is ], 425 but by the consolidation
or leasing of roads, the number of corpora
tions controlling and operating roads as car
riers is reduced to 700 1t is believed that
!, 2OJ roads, operated by about 800 corpora
tions as carriers, are subject to the law.
The commission as yet has no statistics of its
own collection to lay before the public, but
quotes from manual generally accepted as
reliable the cost of construction and equip
ment of these roads, which places it at 81,
254, 995, 222S, and estimates the funded debt of
the companies at 81, So, et6 SS0
Some idea, the commission say, of the
magnitude OF the interest which the act I'M
dertakes to regulate may be obtained from
these figures, but they fall far short of
measuring, or even of indicating, its import
ance. The regulation of no other business
would concern so many or such diversified
interests, or would affect in so many ways
the results Of enterprise, the prosperity of
commercial and manufacturing ventures, the
Intellectual and social intercourse of the peo-
pie, or the general comfort and convenience
of the citizen in his every day life. The rail
roads provide for the people facilities and
conyenlences of a business and social nature
which have become altogether Indispensable
and the Importance OF so regulating these
that the best results may be had, not by the
general public alone. but by the owners of
railroad property also, is quite beyond COM
putation.
Commenting on the evils that have arisen
out of the abuses that have grown up with
the extension of railroads, they say: 1T is
striking proof of the recklessness of corpor-
ate management that los roads, representing
mileage of u, 0G6, are now IN the hands Of
receivers, managing them under the direc-
ton of the courts, whose attention is thus
necessarily withdrawn from the ordinary
and more appropriate duties OF judicial
bodies. So serious has been the evil of
bringing worthless schemes into existence
and making them che basis for an appropria-
ton of public MONIES or for the issue of
worthless evidences of debt that numbsr of
the states have so amended their constitu-
tons as to take from the legislature the
power either to lend the credit of the state in
aid OF corporations proposing TO construct rail-
roads, or to authorize municipal bodies to
render aid, either money or credit State
legislation has at the same time been in the
direction OF making compulsory the actual
payment OF bona fi'te capital before cor
poratIoh shall be at liberty to test the cred
ulty of the public by issue OF negotiable
securities
After referring to the cutting of rates by
raliroads-where the business in their proper
territory was inadequate-for the purpose of
| obtaining business IN the territory of other
| roads, and the consequent carrying of freight
| in these cases at less than cost, and the Civ
| ing of special rates to large shippers to the
| disadvantage of smaller shippers until the
large ones had a practical monopoly of the
business the commission goes on to say:
| The act to regulate commerce has now
been in operation eight months One imme-
! diate effect was to cause Inconvenience in
| many quarters, and even yet the business OF
some parts OF the country is not fully adjust
| ed to 1t. Some carriers, also, are not
as yet in their operations conform
| in al Ia ifs STlir nd
purpose. Nevertheless, the commission
Ieeis Justified III SAYING that the operation of
the act has In general been beneficial In
some particulars, as we understand has also
been tie case with similar statutes In some of
the states, 1t has operated directly to increase
railroad earnings, especially IN the cutting
| OIL OF free passes on Interstate passenger
traffic, and in putting an end to rebates
drawbacks, and special rates upon freight
business The results OF the law in these re-
spects are also eminently satisfactory to the
general puoilc, certainly TO all who had not
been wont TO prollt by special or personal
advantages. In connection with the aboli-
ton OF the pass system, there has been some
reduction IN passenger fares, especially in
the charge made Tor mileage tickets In the
northwest the section OF the country where
| sN't $50 f"' tsp 'i''N '"'P''JS"
| Freight traffic Tor the year has been eN-
ceptonally large III volume, and Is believed
to have been Id no small degrees stimulated
by growing confidence that the days of re-
bates and special rates were ended, and that
open rates on all equal basis were now offered
TO all corners The reflex action OF this de-
veiopment oil confidence among business
men mas peeh hiehiy IaVorabie 10 the roads.
III SOME localities the passage OF the act
was made the occasion on the part OF dis
SATISFIED ana short-sighted railroad managers
for ne" exaeuohs' through direct raising
OF rates oy chahge IN ciassihcatlon, and
otherwise Ihe manifestation OF the spirit
which induced such action Is now but seldom
observed, ana the wrongs resulting from ii
have IN general been corrected The effect
OF the operation OF the fourth section has been
speeiaIiy oeserlbeu' ana the commas
sioh repeatS III this piace i0s opihloh that,
however serious may nave Deem the results IN
some cases, the general effect has been bene'
hclai The changes In classification made
since the act TOOK effect have been IN the d.
ie''ion VI anu nave aiso'
~ soio, ~ % Deen s'nse's .' u
boan aans na -" he,'c uoi y, asI Ia Ia
nsrmanantlv adyancsd ayoant wbs r, aTcas CIV p,
con,netit,on had radncsd ,bsm 10 noi,,s a,
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